The Magpies' Premier League survival grows more uncertain by the week as Rafael Benitez's side sit 19th in the table, six points behind 17th-placed Norwich City after losing 3-1 at Southampton on Saturday afternoon.

United - then under Steve McClaren, who was fired last month - drafted in midfielders Henri Saivet, Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend for the guts of £30 million in January, along with the loan signing of striker Seydou Doumbia.

But the legendary Newcastle striker struggles to understand why the club did not sign defensive cover - particularly a centre-half - after suggesting that Chancel Mbemba has not been up to scratch in recent weeks.

Shane Callaghan

Shane is a Dublin-based sports writer who swapped the football pitch for the press box upon learning that he was better with a pen than with a round bit of leather. Prior to joining HITC, Shane enjoyed spells with Sports Mole and Goal.com among others, while he was also club reporter for Irish football club Drogheda United.